THE CRYSTAL: A RKCOKD OF 1665. 539 



hands long forks, with which, when they came to a body, they lifted 

 it up and threw it into the cart as one throws dung. It* the body 

 were naked, or so slightly clothed as to afford no external hold to the 

 instrument, they found hold for it by thrusting it, without hesitation, 

 into the body itself: and it is a fearful thing to feel, that many of the 

 sleeping* and the dying were probably thrown in with the dead, and 

 with them buried. 



When these objects of horror were removed, I saw a dray, heavily 

 laden, coming up the street. O, my God ! my God ! who in calamity 

 hath spoken to my heart the unutterable secrets of thy love and of 

 thy kingdom, let me die let me die, I pray thee, since I have now 

 seen in truth what I saw in image then! The dray approached, and 

 I saw be still, my heart! I saw among the uppermost of the 

 youths, the virgins, the parents, the children, mingled in one heap of 

 death and horror I saw, in the coarse charge of human brutes, ex- 

 posed to the rude eye of day, in only one simple inner garment, and 

 with her long bright hair spread wildly around, over grim and 

 tender countenances I saw MARGARET ! Oh, Thomas ! my heart 

 hcs been since then a withered leaf but now it matters not what I 

 have seen and have felt. There is no remedy but the grave before 

 me, and that is open, and I am ready, quite ready for it. 



When the dray had passed from my sight, I started upon my feet, 

 and threw the Crystal with violence from me, cursing both it and its 

 owner. The Doctor went quietly and picked it up, and having re- 

 turned it to its case, came and sat down by my side without speaking. 



When I became a little more composed, I apologized for my rude- 

 ness, and told him what I had seen. 



He replied simply, " I know there is to be a great plague next 

 year but I shall not live to see it. But now I hope you are 

 satisfied ?" 



" Satisfied I Doctor, satisfied !] The greatest blessing you can wish 

 me is, that I may not be convinced that the things shall be which I 

 have seen ; and which, whether convinced or not, will allow me no 

 peace or joy till the next year is over." 



" Well, Master Dinford, I certainly will not press you to establish 

 a conviction which may make you unhappy; but you will at least 

 admit that the fault is not mine, if full conviction is not attained. 

 Now, then, we will go." 



" Not so, Doctor. Though conviction would make me wretched, 

 after what I have seen, I must have it or, rather, I must find, by 

 some strong test, that the things are false which have been brought 

 before me." 



The Doctor smiled gravely. 



" But there is another thing, Sir, besides such a question of proof," 

 I continued : " I would also know what woukl be the result of the 

 event to me personally, if this be true. Shall I survive shall I live? 



* From the frequent mention of sleep, the reader should be informed that, 

 ur.tbr an attack of plague in its worst form, most of the time of illness is parsed, 

 in sleep. This fact is known to the writer from personal observation. 



